Summary: I was genuinely excited about this opportunity and invested a lot in the process—emotionally, logistically, and financially. Unfortunately, the experience left me feeling undervalued and unfairly treated, despite my professionalism and transparency throughout. The recruitment process was overly demanding, inconsistent, and lacking in basic consideration. Full Experience: I went through several rounds of interviews (HR, CCO, Scientific Director) via Teams, all of which were smooth and positive. From the start, I was open about my situation: currently on maternity leave, based in another city, but fully willing to relocate. I emphasized the importance of discussing timing and logistics early to avoid any misunderstandings. The HR assured me that, if things went well, they would invite me for a final in-person interview in Lyon. I was later invited for that meeting, and i was informed that the CCO was insistent on meeting with me again (I thought maybe for a finalization of my recruitment process considering all was going well). Surprisingly, the company did not offer to cover any travel expenses, despite it being their request. Wanting to show my motivation, I organized the trip myself, while juggling a newborn with some health issues (which I didn’t even mention to keep things professional). I left home at 6am and returned at midnight the same day—completely exhausted—but I still showed up fully engaged. Before meeting with the CCO again, i met the commercial team for a “casual” discussion, which was pleasant overall. When asked about my thoughts or concerns, I mentioned the challenges of relocating to Lyon with a family, based on what I had started researching. The team themselves acknowledged that these challenges were real and encouraged me to raise the topic and be very clear about my timing with the CCO. When I met with the CCO (again), I was subjected to another round of questions of hypothetical scenarios, very similar to our first meeting via teams but far more intense. I felt as though i were being interrogated. My answers were being written down and heavily analyzed. Despite my fatigue, I tried to take my time to answer and ask further questions where i felt necessary. I brought up the topic of relocation and timing—as suggested—and was told they would “meet internally to find a middle ground” and get back to me the following week. At the end of the following week, the HR informed me that I “spoke too much about my personal life,” which I found unfair and dismissive. For me, discussing timing and logistics was not personal oversharing—it was necessary, responsible, and relevant. I expected to be reciprocated with bare minimum of effort. The feedback also included that I seemed "unprepared" for the in-person interview, which felt unfair again given the travel strain, lack of logistical support, and unexpected intensity of the second CCO meeting. The HR understood my point of view and informed me that they will meet internally again and she will get back to me the following week. Without any answer at the end of the following week, i sent a follow up message to the HR, to which i received a very late response stating that I will be contacted the following Monday. The final rejection came via a late-day call that Monday! After all the effort, it felt like an unprofessional ending to a process I had taken seriously from day one. I was deeply motivated for this position, but the experience left me feeling misunderstood and disrespected. I gave my full commitment, asked reasonable questions, and showed up even in challenging circumstances. In return, I was met with a lack of support, mixed signals, and questionable feedback. I hope the company reflects on how they treat serious candidates—especially those balancing major life transitions with professional ambition.

The interview process went well, and as it was over the period of December, it took over 2 months. Each step of the interview was well thought out, with the interviewers guiding the candidate to assess personality and technical ability and giving the candidate a glimpse of what can be expected from the job.